Believe it or not, the best skin-tightening cream can help you achieve near-magical effects—ones that defy gravity by tightening and brightening skin to an almost Benjamin Button–like level. Of course, these creams’ real powers—extraordinary as they seem—are rooted in science and born in labs. There’s a precise formula for what separates skin-tightening creams that actually work from those that lag (or shall we say sag) in delivering results.
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Below, a tight edit of the best skin-tightening creams, as selected by dermatologists and Vogue editors. From a firming cream for the neck to a skin-tightening cream for the stomach, and a cellulite cream beloved by industry insiders, the products below deliver the whole body with a surge of toning hydration.
Best Overall: Chanel Le Lift Crème Riche
- Why we love it: Vogue editors have a well-documented fondness for any type of Chanel cream; in fact, this story is being typed with hands swathed in La Crème Main. But for a complexion that suddenly looks lifted, contoured, and a few years younger, Le Lift Crème Riche gets priority space in our vanities. Infused with a botanical alfalfa concentrate that has retinol-like effects, Chanel’s clinically tested cream smooths, firms, and—as one might expect—lifts the skin. The velvety cream is designed for use day and night, and sinks into the skin to give it a look that’s at once toned, illuminated, and intrinsically haute. How does it achieve such time-rewinding magic? “The antioxidants in botanical alfalfa concentrate protect skin from the effects of free oxygen radicals,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp, MD. “Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that can damage cellular components and contribute to premature aging.”
- Skin type: Dry
- Key ingredients: Botanical alfalfa concentrate
- Size: 1.7 fl oz
Best for Stimulating Collagen Production: Nécessaire The Body Lotion
- Why we love it: Nécessaire—which has a glowy-skinned cult following —adheres to the philosophy that skincare for the body is just as nécessaire as skincare for the face. As such, its body lotion is infused with facial-grade ingredients that nourish even the most sensitive of skin types. (Those who do have sensitive skin will be glad to note that the lotion is dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and fragrance-free.) The silky, fast-absorbing formulation is infused with cacay, marula, and meadowfoam oils to flood the skin with moisture and fatty acids to help strengthen the skin barrier. What’s more, the lotion contains five peptides that stimulate collagen and elastin production to visibly firm the skin. Dr. Camp stands by its efficacy: “Offering more than just moisture, this body lotion contains peptides to encourage collagen production for firmer skin and niacinamide to soothe inflammation and improve skin tone,” he attests.
- Skin type: Dry
- Key ingredients: Peptides, niacinamide, fatty acids, cacay oil, marula oil, meadowfoam oil
- Size: 13.5 oz
Best for Replenishing Hydration: Perricone MD High Potency Hyaluronic Intensive Body Therapy
- Why we love it: Dry, crepey skin has a fearsome foe in hyaluronic acid, which infuses this Perricone MD formulation in spades—and in multiple forms. Made with four types and two natural building blocks of the hydrating, plumping ingredient, the fragrance-free cream instantly softens and hydrates the skin. It firms the body, too, drawing on the tightening agent DMAE to address loss of elasticity. It also contains brown algae extract. The sea-sourced ingredient “is a potent source of nutrients and antioxidants,” Dr. Camp says.
- Skin type: Dull, crepey, dry
- Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Dimethylethanolamine (DMAE), brown algae extract
- Size: 6 fl oz
Best for Post-Treatment Recovery: Alastin TransForm Body Treatment
- Why we love it: “Alastin’s TransFORM Body Treatment, which can be used daily or as a part of recovery from a body-sculpting treatment, is made with proprietary technology to effectively deliver peptides to the skin to reduce the appearance of crepey skin and support the production of new collagen and elastin,” says Dr. Camp. Acting as a salve to sagginess anywhere on the body, the treatment harnesses patented TriHex Technology. The peptide-infused blend of active ingredients helps the body produce new collagen and elastin, which contributes to firmer skin. Another patented ingredient, Lipodrone, adds to the overall effect of tightening and toning. Vogue contributor Jancee Dunn once reported “dramatic results” after using the treatment in conjunction with collagen-boosting Sofwave procedures around her knees. “It made the skin above my knees velvety smooth, something I never thought I’d be so diligent about maintaining,” she wrote. Dr. Camp affirms that the unique formulation delivers, sharing that its proprietary technology “effectively delivers peptides to the skin to reduce the appearance of crepey skin and support the production of new collagen and elastin.”
- Skin type: Dry, crepey, post-procedure
- Key ingredients: TriHex Technology, Lipodrone, dill extract
- Size: 6 oz
Best for Sensitive Skin: SkinCeuticals Body Tightening Concentrate
- Why we love it: Made with peptides, antioxidants, and hyaluronic acid to boost hydration and elasticity, this SkinCeuticals cream is Ferzli’s pick for those with reactive skin in search of a firming cream. “This is gentle and hydrating,” she says. “Even those with very sensitive skin seem to tolerate it quite well.”
- Best for use where: The cream can be used anywhere skin needs lifting, including on the abdomen, butt, knees, and thighs. It can also be smoothed over areas with stretch marks to minimize their appearance.
- Skin type: Aging, crepey skin
- Key ingredients: Dimethicone, essential oils, herbal extracts, panthenol, peptides, salicylic acid, Vitamin E
- Size: 5 fl oz
Best Firming Cream for Neck: Neostrata Triple Firming Neck Cream
- Why we love it: Dr. Ashley Magovern, a board-certified dermatologist in California and a medical advisor for Dermstore, points to this firming cream as the choice antidote for a saggy neck. Packed with pro amino acids, the formulation firms up the skin in the delicate area between the chin and the chest; it also targets discoloration.
- Best for use where: The cream was specifically formulated for use on the neck and décolletage.
- Skin type: Normal, dry, or oily
- Key ingredients: NeoGlucosamine, NeoCitriate, pro-amino acid
- Size: 2.8 oz
Best Skin-Tightening Cream for Body: Paula’s Choice Skin-Smoothing Retinol Treatment
- Why we love it: Retinol can boost skin’s tightness and firmness—plus, studies have shown that it can improve the appearance of cellulite, says Dr. Margarita Lolis, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon based in New Jersey. What’s more, Lolis says, the lotion’s star ingredient increases cell turnover. “This helps the tone and texture of your skin,” she explains. “It’s also very helpful for keratosis pilaris in thighs and on the back of the arms.”
- Best for use where: The cream is suited for all-over body use, though anyone with keratosis pilaris (or small bumps) may wish to focus the application wherever the bumps appear.
- Skin type: Acne-prone, combination, dry, mature
- Key ingredients: Retinol, shea butter
- Size: 4 fl oz
Best Cellulite Cream: Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Body Cream
- Why we love it: Charlotte Tilbury’s rose-scented cream “helps brighten the skin and leave it glowing,” says Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and New Jersey, noting that its hyaluronic acid and caffeine keep the skin hydrated, smooth, and firm. Inspired by the brand’s cult-classic Magic Cream, this for-the-body iteration is infused with Algactiv Uplift technology to tone and tighten the skin. It’s also been shown to reduce the appearance of cellulite when used regularly over the course of eight weeks.
- Best for use where: Massage the cream onto the entire body, focusing on the stomach and thighs. Not just a cellulite cream, this can also relieve joint tension. Try using circular motions to massage it around the ankles, kneecaps, wrists, and elbows.
- Skin type: Those with dull or dry skin will appreciate its hydrating, luminosity-inducing properties.
- Key ingredients: Caffeine, Algactiv Uplift, hyaluronic acid, shea butter
- Size: 6.7 fl oz
Best Tightening Cream for Legs: Revision Skincare BodiFirm
- Why we love it: For tightening skin on the legs and on the stomach, Revision Skincare’s firming cream “is my go-to,” says Dr. Georgina Ferzli, a board-certified dermatologist in New York. “This is one of very few creams for body-tightening that actually works.” She credits its ingredients—which include peptides, antioxidants, and proteins—for its effectiveness. Plus, it has glucosamine to help increase cell turnover and slough off dead skin cells. “This allows the firmer, more hydrated skin to shine through,” Ferzli notes.
- Best for use where: The cream can be used on areas throughout the body. The application can be focused not only on the stomach or on the legs, but also on areas showing crepiness and signs of sun damage — both of which the cream can make less noticeable.
- Skin type: Thin, crepey, skin showing sun damage
- Key ingredients: iFirm technology, caffeine, glucosamine
- Size: 3.8 oz
Best High-Tech Cream: SkinMedica Firm & Tone for Body
- Why we love it: Lolis notes that SkinMedica’s skin-tightening cream for the body is powered by science and clinical data. “Its technology targets five pathways involved in laxity and fat,” she explains. “It also has peptides and botanical extracts that help maintain natural levels of collagen and elastin.” Plus, it has a lovely, lightweight texture that sinks quickly into the skin.
- Best for use where: Though it shouldn’t be applied to irritated skin, the citrus-scented cream can be used on any other area of the body where skin lacks texture, tone, or firmness.
- Skin type: All skin types
- Key ingredients: Peptides, shitake mushroom, lemon balm, green microalgae extracts
- Size: 6 fl oz
Best Décolletage-Firming Cream: Yon-Ka Phyto 52
- Why we love it: Firming, tightening, and intensely moisturizing, Yon-Ka’s botanical cream works overnight to sculpt and contour the face— though Ferzli uses it in another way. “It’s a dream cream for the chest and décolletage,” she says. “For the chest, where we endure a lot of sun damage on very thin skin, the mix of antioxidants, natural oils, and hyaluronic acid help to repair the skin while also maintaining moisture.”
- Best for use where: The cream was designed to firm skin on the face and neck; it can also be used on the chest and décolletage.
- Skin type: Though Phyto 52 can be used on most skin types, Ferzli cautions that it may be too oily for acne-prone facial skin.
- Key ingredients: Essential oil blend, vitamin E, aloe, beech bud peptides
- Size: 1.41 oz
Best Firming Cream for Arms: U Beauty the Sculpt Arm Compound
- Why we love it: Packed with proprietary “sculpting” technology, U Beauty’s arm cream firms and tightens the appearance of the skin. “It helps to reduce the appearance of crepiness without causing irritation,” says Garshick. To lock in moisture, she recommends following the arm-sculpting treatment with the brand’s Super Hydrator.
- Best for use where: The cream was designed to tone the skin of the arms, though it can also firm up the neck and the décolletage.
- Skin type: The cream is most beneficial to those with thin or crepey skin.
- Key ingredients: Sculpting Siren Capsules (U Beauty’s proprietary firming technology made with marine extracts, probiotics, and ferments), retinol, vitamin C
- Size: 4 fl oz
Best Firming Cream for Face: Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
- Why we love it: “This cream is easy to use and great for sensitive skin,” notes Magovern. “It has a nice and light texture, plus it has SPF 30 for sun protection.”
- Best for use where: The wrinkle-fighting day cream is best used on the face.
- Skin type: With a skin-quenching formulation, the rose-scented cream is a salve for dry skin in particular.
- Key ingredients: Mimosa, chlorella, padina pavonica
- Size: 1.6 fl oz
Best Skin-Firming Cream for Face and Neck: RoC Multi Correxion
- Why we love it: Enhanced with broad-spectrum SPF 30, the multipurpose drugstore find has been clinically proven to improve discoloration, dryness, crepiness, wrinkles, and dullness. “Some people notice results in as early as four weeks,” Garshick notes. She adds that the active cream contains Hexyl-R technology, which helps firm up the skin— but it’s still gentle enough for daily use.
- Best for use where: In addition to on the face, the cream was designed for use on the delicate area between the chin and the chest.
- Skin type: The non-comedogenic, oil-free formula is suited for use on all skin types, including those that are oily or acne-prone.
- Key ingredients: Hexyl-R complex technology
- Size: 1.7 oz
Best Stomach-Firming Cream: Caudalie Vinosculpt Lift & Firm Body Cream
- Why we love it: Flooded with firming ingredients derived from grapes, Caudalie’s fast-absorbing cream has hyaluronic acid for extra hydration. When used regularly, it can tighten the skin on the stomach and waist — it also moonlights as a butt-sculpting cream.
- Best for use where: Use the cream twice daily, massaging it day and night into the skin on the arms, chest, stomach, butt, and thighs.
- Skin type: The cream is particularly hydrating and softening on dry skin.
- Key ingredients: Organic grape water, grape seed polyphenols, iris extract, organic shea butter
- Size: 8.4 fl oz
Best Thigh-Firming Cream: Nivea Skin Firming & Toning Gel Cream
- Why we love it: When used twice a day, the lightweight formulation can firm up the skin on the thighs and other areas in as little as two weeks. Applying it regularly won’t feel like a chore: The creamy gel formulation has a pleasant, cooling sensation as it’s massaged on—and it sinks into the skin and softens it fast.
- Best for use where: The cooling formulation works best on the thighs, stomach, and butt, where it should be applied daily.
- Skin type: The gel-cream is designed for use on normal skin.
- Key ingredients: CoQ10, L-carnitine, lotus extract
- Size: 6.7 oz
Best Firming Cream for Crepiness: StriVectin Crepe Control Tightening Body Cream
- Why we love it: StriVectin creams are formulated with patented NIA-114 technology, which harnesses the buzzy skincare ingredient niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier. It also has peptides and brightening ingredients to even out the skin tone and leave the body firmer and dewier all at once.
- Best for use where: It’s most effective in areas where the skin is saggy or crepey, such as around the knees and elbows.
- Skin type: The cream was specifically formulated for crepey skin.
- Key ingredients: NIA-114 technology
- Size: 6.7 oz
What is a skin-firming cream and do they actually work?
“A body-firming cream refers to a cream designed to tighten and firm the skin. Body-firming creams help to address the appearance of skin laxity and crepiness. And while they are not going to deliver surgical results, they can work to improve the appearance of the skin,” says Garshick.
“Body-firming creams work by stimulating collagen and elastin production, which are crucial for skin firmness and elasticity,” adds Lolis. “Skin-firming creams may be effective depending on the type of active ingredients, their concentration, and how well they penetrate the skin.”
How to find the right firming body cream
When it comes to finding the right firming body cream, “focusing on the ingredient profile is important,” says Ferzli. “If you are someone with sensitive skin, it may be too harsh to use firming lotions that have retinol in them, or a very high concentration of antioxidant extracts. For sensitive skin, it is best to look for body creams that focus on barrier repair and hyaluronic restoration. For those with tougher skin, go with creams that are potent in peptides and proteins for the body.” Lolis adds, “The best formulation for you should feel comfortable on your skin and fit into your daily routine.”
What to look for in a firming body cream
“Those selecting a firming body cream should take their individual skin type and skin care concerns into account,” Garshick notes. “The consistency of the formulation may also be important to consider. For example, those with dry skin may opt for a thicker, more nourishing cream as compared to someone with more oily skin. Additionally, it can help to consider other textural and sensorial properties, including whether it has fragrance or not. Some people prefer to have fragrance when applying a body lotion, while for those with sensitive skin it may be best to avoid it.”
Which ingredients should be in a skin-firming cream?
The best ingredients in skin-firming creams do quick work to tackle the signs of aging. “As we age, our skin fibers—or collagen—become weaker and less abundant,” explains Ferzli. “We also decrease our production of hyaluronic acid, whose main job is to bind water in the skin and bolster up our collagen and elastin fibers. In order to help prevent and reverse these changes, we can supplement the skin with peptides that help activate collagen and elastin renewal, antioxidants to combat the elements, and hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and other barrier repair ingredients to help maintain skin hydration for a visibly smoother and plumper look.”
